As this year draws to a close, many people’s thoughts are turning towards warmer days ahead … and if you’re looking for a getaway with a difference in 2019, we have a great suggestion for you. Learn all about the magic of the Earthsong camps in this beautiful article by Ruth Pinson, which appears in our Winter 2018/19 issue.
Holidays
“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
Japanese Proverb
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Guided Tours of the Temples of Humankind
The Federation of Damanhur, Italy, opens the door on its most precious realization, the Temples dedicated to Humanity: an extraordinary, underground construction, begun in 1978 and created entirely by hand. It has been declared a work of art by the Soprintendenza alle Belle Arti. There are 3 and 7-day programmes available, offering a full immersion in Damanhur including many hours in the spiritual energies of the Temples of Humankind.
Tao Garden Health Resort
The Tao Garden Health Resort, about thirty minutes outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand, is an internationally renowned Healing Resort where an individual or groups can go and experience a wide variety of holistic healing methodologies. Tao Garden Training Centre is more than a relaxing health resort for the individual, more than a place to train rigorous Taoist practices, and more than a spa for the whole family, it is a place where the very fabric of what one thinks is lifted to reveal what one knows.
Sacred Scotland
Guided tours around ancient sacred sites in Highland Perthshire, Scotland with historical researcher, Barry Dunford, author of The Holy Land of Scotland: Jesus in Scotland and the Gospel of the Grail. Based in the central Highlands of Scotland, which are steeped in ancient history and folklore, Barry integrates into his personalised tours, twelve years of research into this unique area. Sites include: megalithic stone circles, pictish symbol stones, hermitages, sanctuary stone crosses, ancient Celtic church sites and the famous Fortingall Yew believed to be the oldest tree in Europe.
FESTIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS
The Funky Seomra
At Last! A Saturday night out with a difference.
Imagine yourself on a night out in an exciting club atmosphere where you’re free to dance anyway you like without limitations, to the lush beats of funky world music accompanied by live African drummers. All this in a vibrant ecstatic atmosphere without alcohol or drugs. Here it is….The Funky Seomra! is an Embodiment event held monthly in association with Temple Bar’s Cultivate Centre. Everyone welcome.
When: Saturday October 18th
What time: 7.30pm – 12pm
Where: Cultivate Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar
Entry: €15 / €10 for members & unemployed
www.dublin.ie/websites/movement
Heaven and Earth Day Spa
The sanctuary on George’s Street Lower in Dun Laoghaire, is designed in every way to restore you and reconnect you to your inner self, with holistic design, professional beauty, body and soul care and advice on living food nutrition. It is a place to relax, rest and unwind, enjoy the delicious organic living foods in the Living Food café that will help to revitalise your body. and take time to browse through the selection of handpicked ethical, fair-trade products on offer.
For further information please contact:
Fiona Cunningham, Fleishman Hillard on 01-6188412 / 0872311653
Sinead Ni Chonaill, Fleishman Hillard on 01-6188408 / 0863316461
www.heavenandearth.ie
The Apple Farm
The Apple Farm in Tipperary has something for every health conscious person this season. Cider vinegar, recommended by Hippocrates himself, and used for thousands of years is a traditional favourite. Juices freshly pressed on the farm, from fruits grown right there on the spot make a great Christmas gift, and hampers are also available. Home-grown apples, of which there are a selection, are always popular too. You can call to the farm shop, which is open 7 days a week, or order the cider vinegar and juices online from www.theapplefarm.com
The Apple Farm, is located on the N24 between Cahir and Clonmel.
Clifden Holistic Health Day
14 February 2009
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Local practitioners of Systematic Kinesiology, Acupuncture, Reiki, Reflexology, Bowen Therapy and Massage, Chakra Balancing, Pranic Healing and Herbalism will be on hand to dispense advice and to offer sessions or tasters. Speakers from Cultivate Ireland, Sustainability Institute, Forum, GM FREE Ireland and Atlantic Aromatics, as well as Ronnie Plant and Audrey Keane will inspire us with talks. There will also be Drama, Yoga and 5 Rhythm Dance workshops. There will also be stands where you can try organic food, and products and also enjoy cookery demonstrations .
The Green Energy Awards
Green Awards winners will be unveiled at a glittering gala dinner in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on Thursday, December 4. Healthbuild Ltd., committed since 1989 to ecological buildings, is proud to be shortlisted for this years “The Green Energy Award”; category “Green Organisation.” The main focus of our work has always been low energy design in manufacturing, distribution and supply of a broad range of high quality and innovative ecological and healthy products as well as being actively involved in campaigning for sustainable and forward thinking transport and urban planning solutions for the city of Sligo.
This recognition is a wonderful encouragement to people everywhere who are involved in creating a positive and sustainable future.
PAMPERING YOURSELF
Samadhi Yoga Studios
Stretch into winter by taking an extra healthy lunch break. With daily morning classes (complete with porridge) and lunchtime classes three times a week, this Temple Bar Studio (with sister studios in Drogheda) offers a wide range of yoga classes, massage and meditation for all levels. With the friendliest teachers in town.
Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Frequency Specific Microcurrent is an exciting new way of treating nerve and muscle pain and many other conditions using specific frequencies and micro amperage current.
We have not found anyone it does not work on or any other condition for which it is useful.
The frequency specific effect is remarkable and reproducible.
For more info, contact David on 0862463797
SteamyWonder Spa System
Natures natural way of healing the body with steam.
Transform your massage table into a complete spa. Benefits Of Steam Include – Detoxification, Increased metabolism, Weight loss, Youthful hydrated skin, Relaxed muscles, Improved circulation, Relief from muscle/joint pain
Beautiful Bamboo Bed Linen
The ultimate sleep experience…a real treat for yourself or an original present gift wrapped for someone special.
Visit www.luxurybamboolinen.com for further information.
GIVEAWAYS
Planet Beach
To celebrate the launch of our new website, Planet Beach have given us 10 sets of 3 Free Spa Treatments. The first 10 people to subscribe to our magazine online at www.positivelife.ie will receive 1 of these sets of free treatments each.
For more info on Planet Beach, tel: (01) 4629999
Or go online at www.planetbeach.com
The Organic Guide
This All-Ireland directory will tell you where to find certified local organic producers from free range poultry to organic wines and from cotton nappies to organic cosmetics. This highly practical, concise guide is organised by province and alphabetically providing not only full contact details but also a brief description of the products and services offered.
It is a book to use at home or take with you on your travels throughout the North and South of Ireland.
The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim, 0719854338
All good bookshops and health food stores nationwide.
www.theorganiccentre.ie
For a chance to receive 1 of 5 copies of The Organic Guide, or 1 of 5 bottles of the new Winter Magic essential oil blend from Atlantic Aromatics, simply log on to www.positivelife.ie and sign up for our FREE e-newsletter.
Holidays are so important. They give us the opportunity to relax, rebalance and rebuild both physically and mentally. So how do you make sure that this year’s hols is the best experience ever and not the holiday-from-hell? Experts at the College of Naturopathic Medicine have devised these tips to ensure you have a fabulous time (naturally!)
Drink enough…
The body can so easily become dehydrated on sunny days especially if travelling by car or plane, in the heat. So our first tip is to make sure you drink enough water. Water is essential for rehydration. We need at least 6 glasses of water per day. The colour of urine is always a god indicator of whether you are dehydrated: it should be clear and pale yellow; if it is dark or has an odour you need more water. Remember too, that tea, coffee and alcohol are diuretics; for every cup you drink you will lose 1 ½ cups and you need to drink this amount of water to replenish lost fluid.
…but not too much
Ideally limit your alcohol consumption, drink plenty of water and eat food when drinking alcohol. But this is a holiday so if you do over indulge there are remedies that will ease our suffering the next day.
Methionine is an amino acid that helps our liver detoxify alcohol. This can be taken before and after drinking. Milk thistle is an herbal remedy that will help to metabolise alcohol and protect the liver from damage. And, of course, the classic homoeopathic remedy is Nux vomica (this is a useful remedy to pack, also good for sickness when travelling – see below)
Before you go…
Long journeys for holidays whether by car, plane or train tend to start with happy excited children but deteriorate rapidly as they become tired, overheated or suffer travel sickness. Don’t leave home without packing a flask of peppermint tea with a few slices of fresh ginger: this infusion is a perfect anti-emetic to help prevent nausea and vomiting. Try sucking on crystallised ginger, drinking ginger tea or look for ginger in capsule form. Adults also sometimes get travel sickness, aggravated by rich food or alcohol from the night before. The homeopathic remedy nux vomica (30c) is perfect in this instance. The classic homoeopathic remedy for travel sickness is Petrolinum 30C, three times a day and can be picked up from any homoeopath.
…and when you’re there
Your moment in the sun has arrived! So don’t let sunburn spoil anyone’s holiday. The suns rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm so to prevent skin cancer stay out of direct sunlight during these hours. In summer sun it is best to always wear sun cream on exposed skin – and not just when sunbathing – remember you can get burnt even while enjoying that game of golf or fishing expedition! So slap on a generous layer of SPF30 and reapply at frequent intervals. Always wear a hat too. Cantharis 30C is a homoeopathic remedy that is brilliant not only to relieve the pain of sunburn but also any kind of burn injury. To soothe and heal sunburned skin, mix a few drops of lavender oil with some aloe vera gel and gently apply. This cooling gel is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
Bites and stings…
Midges, mosquitoes, wasps, bees and jellyfish to name just a few. Bites and stings can be very distressing but seldom dangerous (If any swelling of the face or tongue occurs seek medical advice immediately). Citronella is an essential oil that is a powerful mosquito repellent (although not for use directly on the skin as it can cause photosensitivity). Cover arms and legs when going out particularly in the evening. For jellyfish stings the best remedy is vinegar. Ledum 30C is good for all bites, taken every 10 minutes up to 3 times then every hour until symptoms subside.
…and bugs
In many countries it is safer to use bottled water rather than tap water. Don’t put ice in your drinks; peel all fruit and clean teeth with bottled water. There are some natural and powerful remedies that will help prevent and treat travel bugs. Take an acidophilus or bifidus supplement before and during your stay. Good gut health before you leave is essential in resistance to bacteria so include plenty of natural probiotics such as leeks, bananas and artichokes in your diet. For specific infections such as giardia or cryptosporidium, remedies such as citricidal, golden seal and caprylic acid are powerful gut anti-microbials that should be taken as directed.
Finally, it’s a good idea to take your remedies along with you – rather than wait until you arrive and find you can’t get what you want. But, make sure that you are familiar with any restrictions for travelling with potions and pills, if travelling by air.
THE COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE (CNM) is a leader in the field of Naturopathic training. It operates five colleges in Ireland in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Belfast. For those interested in pursuing a career in naturopathy, they will be holding open evenings on 17th June, 1st July and 22nd July. For more information check www.naturopathy-ireland.com or phone (01) 235 3094